Rivers Cautions Hoteliers Against Unclean Hotel Premises

The Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Bro. Felix Obuah has expressed displeasure with some hoteliers in the State who are in the habit of flouting the agency’s directive by not keeping their premises and business environment clean and healthy, thereby making Port Harcourt and its environs unclean.

Bro. Obuah, who stated this while receiving members of the State branch of the Nigeria Hotel Association (NHA), led by its Chairman, Eugene Nwauzi, in his office in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the Agency was becoming worried by the ugly habit of some hoteliers, who contemptuously sabotage the efforts of the Agency and the State government in making Port Harcourt, the State capital regain its garden city status.

The Sole Administrator, who was represented by his Personal Assistant, Prince Ike Anslem Chukwu, also frowned at hoteliers who promote the services of unregistered companies to dispose of their waste, adding that these unregistered companies cart away the refuse and dump them indiscriminately.

He advised all hoteliers in the State to ensure that they engage only service providers registered with the Agency, pointing out that only RIWAMA approved contractors have the license to perform such services.

The Sole Administrator further stated that RIWAMA is not collecting any levy or taxes of any kind, under any guise, stressing that all revenue are collected by the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue.

Consequently, the RIWAMA boss also called on hoteliers in the State to report anyone or group of persons who approach them to collect levies or taxes to the law enforcement agency or the RIWAMA office along Ikwerre Road, Mile 4 in Port Harcourt.

While also commending some hoteliers who keep their premises and surroundings clean, Bro. Obuah urged all in the hospitality industry in the State to support Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in his efforts to ensure that Rivers people receive the dividends of democracy, particularly in a clean and healthy environment.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Rivers State branch of the Nigeria Hotel Association, Eugene Nwauzi, said they were on the visit to thank Governor Wike for appointing Bro. Felix Obuah, who is also in the hospitality industry, as Sole Administration of RIWAMA, adding that they were also pleased with harmonization of taxes in the State.

Nwauzi commended the Governor for creating a conducive environment for hotel business and other businesses to thrive in the State, adding that this had contributed in the attraction of local, national and international events to Port Harcourt, thereby promoting hotel businesses.

The Chairman called on government to wade into the high electricity tariff imposed on hoteliers in the State by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), urging the State Government to adopt the Independent Power Project (IPP) option in the provision of electricity.

Nwauzi explained that Rivers State has the capacity to use IPP to generate power at affordable prices to the people living and doing business in the State.

The Chairman also urged government to reopen and put the Port Harcourt International Airport Hotel into use, since it is a gateway from the airport into the State